Defensive Duo Earns CCC Football Weekly Honors
Montalvo named Defensive Player of the Week, Keutmann receives Defensive Rookie of the Week accolades
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 12, 2017) – Freshman linebackers Ricky Montalvo (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and Erich Keutmann (Washingtonville, N.Y.) of the Western New England University football team have both earned Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) weekly honors, the league office announced on Sunday morning.
Montalvo was named Defensive Player of the Week, while Keutmann received Defensive Rookie of the Week accolades following Western New England's 55-14 victory over Nichols College at Golden Bear Stadium on Saturday.
The duo helped lead a Western New England defense that surrendered 3.9 yards per play and limited the Bison to a 25 percent (5-of-20) third down conversion rate. The Golden Bears shut out Nichols over the first three quarters before the visitors scored a pair of late touchdowns.
Montalvo turned in the best statistical performance of an impressive freshman campaign on Saturday, as the Rocky Hill, Conn. native recorded a team-high ten tackles, including three for a loss of 16 yards and two sacks.
Montalvo, who was named the CCC Football Defensive Rookie of the Week on October 22, has recorded 17 tackles (three for loss) in eight appearances this season.
Keutmann, who has also seen significant action during his first season with the program, is being recognized by CCC Football for the first time. The freshman totaled five tackles, including two for a loss of yardage and one sack, to go with an interception that he returned for 29 yards against the Bison.
Keutmann has made nine appearances this season, recording 26 tackles. A 2017 graduate of Washingtonville (N.Y.) high school, the mechanical engineering major played both lacrosse and football for the Wizards, earning All-State and Section 9 Player of the Year honors.
Western New England (8-2, 5-0 CCC Football), which earned the conference's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Division III Tournament, will find out its first round opponent during the NCAA Selection show, which airs on NCAA.com at 5:30 p.m.
